Wealth and asset management firm Robert W. Baird & Co., widely referred to as simply "Baird", has released its RFID Monthly for November. Baird has given RFID Update permission to reprint the Key Developments section, which serves as the report summary. For those wanting more detail, the complete eighteen-page document is available free here.

Highlights in this month's edition include the DoD RFID implementation timetable at the bottom of page 6, company-specific news on pages 8-10, and funding news on page 10 (recall: ThingMagic closed its $15 million Series A, T3Ci got $8.75 in Series B, and PanGo Networks got $10 million in Series B). Also, the report includes its usual matrix of primary RFID providers on page 11, a handy print-out. The key developments: Companies Claiming New Gen 2 Certification. SAMSys received Gen 2 certification from EPC Global for its MP9311 Reader. In addition, Philips is claiming its Gen 2 silicon has received certification from EPCglobal. Recall, in mid-September, EPC Global announced it had certified readers from seven reader companies (Alien, AWID, Impinj, Intermec, MaxID, Symbol and ThingMagic) and silicon from one company (Impinj).
  International Interest in RFID Continues to Grow. An increasing number of RFID conferences are being held in Europe and Asia, several this past November. In addition, we are seeing investments in test center construction and an increase in the number of international studies published on the potential size of the RFID international market. We are also seeing an increase in the number of international companies embarking on pilot projects.
  Increased Government RFID Application. The DoD and State Department are moving forward with RFID. The DFAR contract clause changes went into effect on November 14, and now the DoD contractually requires suppliers signing new contracts to be RFID compliant. In addition, and less well known, is that the State Department has elected to pursue requiring RFID chipsets to be embedded in all passports by October of 2006. The chips are expected to contain personal information such as name, nationality, sex, date of birth, place of birth as well as a digital photo. We expect increased privacy pushback from independent groups.
  Increased RFID Visibility in Financial Markets. While RFID remains only a small component of most public companies, we saw increased discussion and improved revenue streams during 3Q05 reporting. In addition, we are seeing more acquisition activity and more venture-based funding. Also, Applied Digital announced that its subsidiary, VeriChip Corporation, plans to file an IPO which is expected to close during 2Q06.